C. M.

38

Divine Interposition acknowledged. BLEST be the Lord, who heard my prayer, The Lord-my shield-my song; Who saved my soul from sin and fear, And tuned with praise my tongue. 2 When in the hour of deep distress, Of foes and death afraid,

My spirit trusted in his grace,
And sought, and found his aid.
3 O blest Redeemer-glorious Lord!
Thy shield-thy strength shall be
The shield-the saving strength of all,
Who love, and trust in thee..

4 Remember, Lord, thy chosen seed;
Oh save from guilt and wo:
Thy flocks in richest pastures feed,
Ånd guard from every foe,

5 Zion exalt-her cause defend;
With joy her courts surround:
Let showers of heavenly grace descend,
And saints thy praise resound.

FALL AND NATURAL CHARACTER OF MAN.

S. M.

39

Hope from the Gospel only.

GOD'S holy law, transgressed,
Speaks nothing but despair;
Burdened with guilt-with grief oppressed,
We find no comfort there,

2 Not all our groans and tears,
Nor works, which we have aone;
Nor vows, nor promises, nor prayers,
Can e'er for sin atone.

3 Relief alone is found

In Jesus' precious blood: "Tis this that heals the mortal wound, And reconciles to God.

4 High lifted on the cross,

The spotless victim dies:-
This is salvation's only source-
Hence all our hopes arise.

S. M.

40

Hope from the Gospel only.

AH, how shall fallen man
Be just before his God?
If he contend in righteousness,
We fall beneath his rod.

2 If he our ways should mark
With strict inquiring eyes,
Could we for one of thousand faults
A just excuse devise?

3 All-seeing, powerful God!

Who can with thee contend?
Or who that tries th' unequal strife,
Shall prosper in the end?

4 The mountains, in thy wrath,
Their ancient seats forsake!
The trembling earth deserts her place,
Her rooted pillars shake!

5 Ah, how shall guilty man Contend with such a God?

None-none can meet him, and escape, But through the Saviour's blood.

S. M.

Christ a Light in Darkness.

41

HOW heavy is the night

That hangs upon our eyesTill Christ, with his reviving light, Over our souls arise!

2 Our guilty spirits dread

To meet the wrath of Heaven;But in his righteousness arrayed, We see our sins forgiven.

3 Unholy and impure

Are all our thoughts and ways: His hands infected nature cure With sanctifying grace.

4 The powers of hell agree

To hold our souls in vain ;
He sets the sons of bondage free,
And breaks the cursed chain.

5 Lord, we adore thy ways,
To bring us near to God;
Thy sovereign power-thy healing grace,
And thine atoning blood.

42

C. M.

HOW sad our state by nature is!
Our sin-how deep it stains!
And Satan holds our captive minds
Fast in his slavish chains.

2 But hark! a voice of sovereign grace Sounds from the sacred word

'Ho! ye despairing sinners, come, And trust upon the Lord."

3 My soul obeys the gracious call,
And runs to this relief;

I would believe thy promise, Lord;
Oh help my unbelief.

4 A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, On thy kind arms I fall:

Be thou my strength and righteousness,
My Saviour, and my all.

C. M.

43

Christ a Light in Darkness. GREAT King of glory and of grace! We own, with humble shame, How vile is our degenerate race, And our first father's name.

2 We live estranged, afar from God,
And love the distance well;

With haste we run the dangerous road,
That leads to death and hell.

3 And can such rebels be restored!
Such natures made divine!
Let sinners see thy glory, Lord,
And feel this power of thine.

4 We raise our Father's name on high,
Who his own Spirit sends,
To bring rebellious strangers nigh,
And turn his foes to friends.

C. M.

44

Death in Trespasses and Sins.

HOW helpless guilty nature lies,
Unconscious of her load!"

The heart unchanged can never rise
To happiness and God.

2 Can aught beneath a power divine
The stubborn will subdue?
"Tis thine, eternal Spirit, thine,
To form the heart anew.

3 'Tis thine, the passions to recall,
And upward bid them rise;
To make the scales of error fall
From reason's darkened eyes;—

4 To chase the shades of death away, And bid the sinner live:

A beam of heaven-a vital ray, "Tis thine alone to give.

5 Oh! change these wretched hearts of ours,
And give them life divine;
Then shall our passions and our powers,
Almighty Lord, be thine.

L. M.

45

Pardon and Sanctification penitently implored.
SHOW pity, Lord-O Lord, forgive,
Let a repenting rebel live;
Are not thy mercies large and free?
May not a sinner trust in thee?

2 Oh wash my soul from every sin,

And make my guilty conscience clean;
Here, on my heart, the burden lies,
And past offences pain mine eyes.
3 My lips, with shame, my sins confess,
Against thy law-against thy grace:
Lord, should thy judgment grow severe,
I am condemned-but thou art clear.